A cyclist thug who pulled out a huge 'zombie knife' and began smashing a car window in a terrifying road rage attack was today spared jail, sparking fury. Shocking dashcam footage showed Joshua Gardner, 18, brandishing the enormous blade on a busy south London road before repeatedly slashing at the car and threatening its 19-year-old driver, who got out and ran away.

But an Old Bailey judge told Gardner he would only be given a suspended sentence because he carried the knife following a ten-day kidnap ordeal in which he was held at gunpoint. Gardner, who had a previous conviction for attempting to rob a schoolboy of his mobile and wallet at knifepoint, was convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.